Emma, 31, has had a tortilla shop for several years and she tells us that she’s very happy because she’s been able to reach her goals to date thanks to the support Kiva has given her through the loans. This is why she’s asking for this loan to buy corn and firewood since she needs more capital to work because her customers have increased. She hopes that Kiva will be able to continue to support her so that she can get ahead with her business.

Additional Information

About FAPE

FAPE, the Foundation for the Assistance of Small Businesses, is a nonprofit, socially-minded institution that provides loans to micro-entrepreneurs across Guatemala.

This is a Group Loan

In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a larger group of individuals. The group is there to provide support to the members and to provide a system of peer pressure, but groups may or may not be formally bound by a group guarantee. In cases where there is a group guarantee, members of the group are responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members in the case of delinquency or default.

Kiva's Field Partners typically feature one borrower from a group. The loan description, sector, and other attributes for a group loan profile are determined by the featured borrower's loan. The other members of the group are not required to use their loans for the same purpose.